The Tour de France is in full swing! The race started in the far Northwest of France and headed straight South in the first week. The racers faced challenges from wind, mountains and themselves while battling for position in the sprint stages.
So far, this year's Grande Boucle has seen a little bit of everything and it is not even half way over! The only predictable thing is that Chris Froome is, once again, wearing the race leader's yellow jersey.
In the first week of racing the peloton passed through the Loire Valley with stage four starting in Saumur. This was the longest stage of the race so hopefully the team directors allowed their racers to enjoy a glass of Cabernet Franc with their dinner the night before!
This week's Lucha Vino matchup features a Washington Cabernet Franc taking on a French challenger from Chinon.
Kaella 2012 Cabernet Franc v. Saget la Perriere Marie de Beauregard 2014 Chinon
Showing posts with label Loire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Loire. Show all posts
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Washington Cab Franc v. Loire Valley
Paris-Nice is an early season stage races that tests Tour de France contenders. This race is also known as the Race to the Sun since it starts in Paris and traces a route South East to Nice, finishing on the Mediterranean Sea. At this time of year the weather is usually cold during the early stages of the race and the riders are eager to finish in Nice where they can anticipate nicer conditions.
The second and third stages of the race passed through the Eastern reaches of the Loire Valley. That is enough of a reason for Lucha Vino to feature a clash of Cabernet Francs. This week features a Bartholomew Cabernet Franc v. a Cab Franc from The Loire.
2008 Bartholomew Cabernet Franc v. 2010 La Grange aux Belles Anjou
Tale of the Tape
2008 Bartholomew Cabernet Franc
100% Cabernet Franc sourced from the Coyote Canyon vineyard located in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA.
Production was two barrels - one second use and one neutral.
Purchased from the winery for $28.
2010 La Grange aux Belles Anjou Rouge 53
This French challenger is a bit of a mystery. Garagiste says it is 100% Cab Franc. Some other clues suggest it is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Regardless, this fresh upstart Luchador isn't giving away very many secrets.
One thing we know for sure, this Luchador is from the Loire Valley.
Purchased from Garagiste for $16.84.
Round 1. First Opening
Bartholomew is stomping on would be contenders and stomping into the ring with a nose of dark fruit, coffee, herbs and dusty underbrush. The palate is dark fruit, spicy clove and hints of cocoa that linger on to the finish.
La Grange aux Belles is reminiscent of a classic ZZ Top tune singing the praises of border town girls. This Luchador is interesting, but not in the way that Bill Gibbons made those Texas girls sound. The nose has character of creamy currants, mineral and woodsy dry underbrush. The palate shows medium red notes of cranberry and woody brambles with a dry finish.
These Luchadors are showing very different styles facing off in the Lucha Vino ring of doom. In the ring of doom you need to be big and burly and in this round the Bartholomew is living up to the billing. Round one goes to Bartholomew, our Washington State Cab Franc luchador.
Round 2. One hour after Opening
Bartholomew is gaining power boasting a nose of dark currant, black cherry, menthol and cocoa. The palate is also up to the challenge with notes of black cherry, clove spices and cola with a cedar spiced finish that ends with semisweet chocolate.
La Grange is getting more eccentric with a nose of creamy vinegar, cranberry and brambles with a palate that is also showing cranberry along with notes of tobacco and a tart cedar finish.
Eccentricity can be enticing when you are visiting the border town ladies, but not when you are trying to deal pain in the wrestling ring. Round two goes to Bartholomew.
Round 3. One day after Opening
About the only shot that La Grange has is to angle for a knock out.
Bartholomew has already shown some significant strength through the first two rounds. Round three leaves no doubt. The nose is showing currant, floral earthy notes along with some chalkiness. The palate is also showing currant, black cherry and clove with cocoa that finishes with semi sweet chocolate.
La Grange has a nose of cranberry and earthy brambles. The palate is also showing cranberry tartness and tobacco with a tart cedar dry finish that has the tobacco coming back again at the end.
Bartholomew continued building muscle mass through all three rounds while La Grange slid from interesting to eccentric to flat out crazy perhaps the result of too many head blows delivered by Bartholomew the Bruiser.
Bartholomew takes round three and the match 3 - 0.
Wrap up and over all observations
These were two very different styles of Cab Franc. The Loire Valley Cat Franc was full of earthiness, herbal notes and underbrush. These characteristics held on over the course of the entire bout. I'm going to leave my other bottle in the cellar for a couple years to see if this crazy Luchador will stop bounding off the walls of its padded cell.
The Washington Cab Franc was big and bruising the herbal notes along with some brambly notes were present but subdued. The dominant characteristic of dark fruit, clove spices and semi-sweet chocolate carried this luchador over the top inflicting serious damage like a flying body slam off the top rope.
I give the Bartholomew a solid 88 and La Grange an 85.
The second and third stages of the race passed through the Eastern reaches of the Loire Valley. That is enough of a reason for Lucha Vino to feature a clash of Cabernet Francs. This week features a Bartholomew Cabernet Franc v. a Cab Franc from The Loire.
2008 Bartholomew Cabernet Franc v. 2010 La Grange aux Belles Anjou
Tale of the Tape
2008 Bartholomew Cabernet Franc
100% Cabernet Franc sourced from the Coyote Canyon vineyard located in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA.
Production was two barrels - one second use and one neutral.
Purchased from the winery for $28.
This French challenger is a bit of a mystery. Garagiste says it is 100% Cab Franc. Some other clues suggest it is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Regardless, this fresh upstart Luchador isn't giving away very many secrets.
One thing we know for sure, this Luchador is from the Loire Valley.
Purchased from Garagiste for $16.84.
Round 1. First Opening
Bartholomew is stomping on would be contenders and stomping into the ring with a nose of dark fruit, coffee, herbs and dusty underbrush. The palate is dark fruit, spicy clove and hints of cocoa that linger on to the finish.
La Grange aux Belles is reminiscent of a classic ZZ Top tune singing the praises of border town girls. This Luchador is interesting, but not in the way that Bill Gibbons made those Texas girls sound. The nose has character of creamy currants, mineral and woodsy dry underbrush. The palate shows medium red notes of cranberry and woody brambles with a dry finish.
These Luchadors are showing very different styles facing off in the Lucha Vino ring of doom. In the ring of doom you need to be big and burly and in this round the Bartholomew is living up to the billing. Round one goes to Bartholomew, our Washington State Cab Franc luchador.
Round 2. One hour after Opening
Bartholomew is gaining power boasting a nose of dark currant, black cherry, menthol and cocoa. The palate is also up to the challenge with notes of black cherry, clove spices and cola with a cedar spiced finish that ends with semisweet chocolate.
La Grange is getting more eccentric with a nose of creamy vinegar, cranberry and brambles with a palate that is also showing cranberry along with notes of tobacco and a tart cedar finish.
Eccentricity can be enticing when you are visiting the border town ladies, but not when you are trying to deal pain in the wrestling ring. Round two goes to Bartholomew.
Round 3. One day after Opening
About the only shot that La Grange has is to angle for a knock out.
Bartholomew has already shown some significant strength through the first two rounds. Round three leaves no doubt. The nose is showing currant, floral earthy notes along with some chalkiness. The palate is also showing currant, black cherry and clove with cocoa that finishes with semi sweet chocolate.
La Grange has a nose of cranberry and earthy brambles. The palate is also showing cranberry tartness and tobacco with a tart cedar dry finish that has the tobacco coming back again at the end.
Bartholomew continued building muscle mass through all three rounds while La Grange slid from interesting to eccentric to flat out crazy perhaps the result of too many head blows delivered by Bartholomew the Bruiser.
Bartholomew takes round three and the match 3 - 0.
Wrap up and over all observations
These were two very different styles of Cab Franc. The Loire Valley Cat Franc was full of earthiness, herbal notes and underbrush. These characteristics held on over the course of the entire bout. I'm going to leave my other bottle in the cellar for a couple years to see if this crazy Luchador will stop bounding off the walls of its padded cell.
The Washington Cab Franc was big and bruising the herbal notes along with some brambly notes were present but subdued. The dominant characteristic of dark fruit, clove spices and semi-sweet chocolate carried this luchador over the top inflicting serious damage like a flying body slam off the top rope.
I give the Bartholomew a solid 88 and La Grange an 85.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Washington Malbec v. France
This week is the lead in to the Giro d' Italia which starts on Saturday. We have a smaller 5 day race known as the Four Days of Dunkirk happening in Northern France at the beginning of the week and that is how I chose this week's luchadors. Why is a 5 day race known as the Four Days of Dunkirk? Good question. I hear the race organizer is not very good at math. Now on to the match.
Washington State Malbec v. France Loire Valley Cot
2008 Tildio Columbia Valley Malbec v. 2007 Domaine Ricard Touraine Le Vilain P'tit Rouge
Tale of the tape
2007 Domaine Ricard
From the Touraine AOC in the Loire Valley of France. 90% Cot and 10% Cabernet Franc
Purchased for $11.99 from Garagiste.
2008 Tildio Columbia Valley Malbec
Mysterious, the winery's website is not displaying any details about the 2008 Malbec.
Purchased for $21 through the Tildio Wine Club.
Round 1. First Opening:
The Domaine Ricard is showing some bright dark berry with a bit of leather and must on the nose with a slightly chewy tannin dark fruit body that leads to an acidic tart cedar finish.
The Tildio is demonstrating a nose of black cherry. logan berry. currant, some creamy spice and a bit of peat bog and smoke. The palate is dark currant and a slightly dry acidic finish that blows off pretty quickly with air.
Stepping into the ring the Tildio is already threatening to dominate the competition. Tildio is big and round. Our French Luchador appears to be very uptight. Perphaps there will be more to the Domaine Ricard in the later rounds. In round one it is Pretty small and slightly frail.
Round 1 goes to Tildio.
Round 2. One hour after Opening:
The Domaine Ricard has a nose of dark fruit, sour mineral and a bit of leather with similarly tart palate that is still pretty tight with some interesting notes of grapefruit on the palate and finish.
The Tildio has a nose of currant and cedar spice with some semi sweet chocolate. The palate is black cherry, bitter cocoa and a tart cedar finish with some vanilla and light caramel.
The Domaine Ricard is still cowering not showing much depth of character. The Tildio is building toward something that hints at a total body slam in the third round. Let's see what happens.
Round 2 goes to Tildio.
Round 3. One day later
The Domaine Ricard has turned away from the challenge. The nose is red fruit with some berry and floral notes. The palate is watery red berry and tart current with the strange grapefruit character showing on the palate and finish.
The Tildio is still building, stepping into the ring flexing its muscles, with a nose of rich dark currant, some spice and cocoa. The palate is similar with current and hints of cocoa
Round 3 goes to Tildio.
Wrap up and over all observations
This match was totally dominated by the Tildio Malbec from the Columbia Valley in Washington state. The Domaine Ricard never opened up. It remained small and really seemed to be intimated by the larger Luchador from Washington.
To be fair to our French contestant, this might have just been an off day (or off bottle). My tasting notes from a previous bottle showed very different character. Prior notes: Nose of blueberry, raspberry and currant with undertones of smoke, peat and hints of pepper. The palate is dark red fruit accented by cedar and leather that leads to a long finish.
On this day, I would rate the Domaine Ricard an 84 and the Tildio an 87.
Oh well, C'est la vie...
Washington State Malbec v. France Loire Valley Cot
2008 Tildio Columbia Valley Malbec v. 2007 Domaine Ricard Touraine Le Vilain P'tit Rouge
Tale of the tape
2007 Domaine Ricard
From the Touraine AOC in the Loire Valley of France. 90% Cot and 10% Cabernet Franc
Purchased for $11.99 from Garagiste.
2008 Tildio Columbia Valley Malbec
Mysterious, the winery's website is not displaying any details about the 2008 Malbec.
Purchased for $21 through the Tildio Wine Club.
Round 1. First Opening:
The Domaine Ricard is showing some bright dark berry with a bit of leather and must on the nose with a slightly chewy tannin dark fruit body that leads to an acidic tart cedar finish.
The Tildio is demonstrating a nose of black cherry. logan berry. currant, some creamy spice and a bit of peat bog and smoke. The palate is dark currant and a slightly dry acidic finish that blows off pretty quickly with air.
Stepping into the ring the Tildio is already threatening to dominate the competition. Tildio is big and round. Our French Luchador appears to be very uptight. Perphaps there will be more to the Domaine Ricard in the later rounds. In round one it is Pretty small and slightly frail.
Round 1 goes to Tildio.
Round 2. One hour after Opening:
The Domaine Ricard has a nose of dark fruit, sour mineral and a bit of leather with similarly tart palate that is still pretty tight with some interesting notes of grapefruit on the palate and finish.
The Tildio has a nose of currant and cedar spice with some semi sweet chocolate. The palate is black cherry, bitter cocoa and a tart cedar finish with some vanilla and light caramel.
The Domaine Ricard is still cowering not showing much depth of character. The Tildio is building toward something that hints at a total body slam in the third round. Let's see what happens.
Round 2 goes to Tildio.
Round 3. One day later
The Domaine Ricard has turned away from the challenge. The nose is red fruit with some berry and floral notes. The palate is watery red berry and tart current with the strange grapefruit character showing on the palate and finish.
The Tildio is still building, stepping into the ring flexing its muscles, with a nose of rich dark currant, some spice and cocoa. The palate is similar with current and hints of cocoa
Round 3 goes to Tildio.
Wrap up and over all observations
This match was totally dominated by the Tildio Malbec from the Columbia Valley in Washington state. The Domaine Ricard never opened up. It remained small and really seemed to be intimated by the larger Luchador from Washington.
To be fair to our French contestant, this might have just been an off day (or off bottle). My tasting notes from a previous bottle showed very different character. Prior notes: Nose of blueberry, raspberry and currant with undertones of smoke, peat and hints of pepper. The palate is dark red fruit accented by cedar and leather that leads to a long finish.
On this day, I would rate the Domaine Ricard an 84 and the Tildio an 87.
Oh well, C'est la vie...
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